Flooded Bracknell couple flooded reluctant to return home as it could happen again

John Slade and his wife were still not home from the first time the pipe burst in March

Ringmead , Bracknell. Burst watermain, John Blay no 70 . age 85 had his house flooded

A couple whose home has flooded twice in three months say they don’t want to move back in after being told it could happen again.

John Slade was dismayed after discovering water had gushed into his Hanworth home when a water main burst for the second time on Wednesday last week.

Mr Slade and his wife Dymphna had still not returned to their home of 41 years in Claverdon after they were forced to move out in March after the main burst for the first time.

They were one of seven families in Claverdon who have been flooded both times the pipe burst. More than 200 homes were without water or had low pressure after the burst last week.

Mr Slade, 77, said: “I’m totally depressed.

“All the neighbours I’ve spoken to can’t understand the fact that we’ve been flooded twice.

“We’re worried it will burst again and we’re not willing to move back in if that’s going to happen.”

He initially thought there had been an accident at the time of the latest flood because he was stuck in traffic.

The police closed Ringmead between Hanworth Road and Birch Hill Road while firefighters pumped water away from the flooded homes after the main burst at 3.20pm.

Mr Slade added: “When we turned around the corner we realised it had happened again.

“The pipe has gone twice in three months, we just got the go-ahead from the insurance company and everything had been paid for, it’s a good job we hadn’t moved back in or everything would be destroyed again.

“We spoke to a couple of workers who were clearing up after the two floods. They said it had been fixed but said it could happen again tomorrow, the day after or in a few weeks.”

Last Wednesday Steve Benton, distribution manager at South East Water which owns the pipe in Ringmead, said: “Approximately 200 customers were affected with either no water or low water pressure following the burst.

“Work is currently being undertaken to re-direct the water around our network of underground pipes and supplies are being restored.

“I would like to thank all those affected for their ongoing patience and cooperation and for any disruption caused.”

Now repairs have been completed investigations are being carried out to discover out why the pipeline has burst twice.

Mr Slade said: “The lack of communication is the worst thing.

“It’s just awful and it seems as if we’ve been completely abandoned.

“We’ve had no contact with South East Water.

“We want a meeting with someone from South East Water who knows what they’re talking about.”

A spokesman from South East Water said: “An investigation is under way as this burst occurred in a similar location to the one which happened on Thursday, March 6.

“Once we have the results of this investigation we will announce what steps we will be taking to upgrade this section of water pipe.”